Bible

(Don’t) Follow Your Heart

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“Just follow your heart!” That saying has popped up in every thing from movies, shows, music, everything as if it were a wise saying. It’s shown up in the moral of the story even in places that don’t say it outright. So, what’s my problem with this worldly proverb?

It’s in direct opposition to every truth uttered by God.

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? -Jeremiah 17:9

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. -Romans 13:14

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. -Matthew 15:19

Your heart was not made to be your master or your leader in anything. Your heart was meant to be led. It’s full of every corruption that it has been exposed to since your birth, and if you follow it, you follow it straight into the hornet’s nest.

What does my heart say? It gets irrationally angry when someone cuts me off in traffic, thinks working for a living is a complete waste of time, and falls for every commercial’s idea for what I need to be happy in life (ooh, that burger would fulfill me, or wait maybe it’s the newest dieting plan? Nope, it definitely the burger). This is on a good day when the darkness of the world doesn’t encroach on me quite as much.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. -Proverbs 4:23

Murderers, rapists, adulterers were all struggling with the desires of their heart. What kind of leader is that? I really don’t want to follow something that’s brought me several times to the icy fingers of depression. I’ve heard its words when I’ve been overcome with anxiety, lying about my worth and exaggerating the importance of others’ opinions. When you follow your heart, you follow the world.

If your heart isn’t the leader, who needs to guide your heart?

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. -Psalm 23:1

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

God’s words and guidance can be found, first and foremost, through the Bible. Do what it takes to be reminded of God’s ways and truths. The world is quick to encroach upon you. Let God’s light in daily through reading the Bible, speaking to loved ones of God, singing Christian music, or praying often.

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart. -Proverbs 4:20-21

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, speaking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates, so that as long as the heavens are above the earth, your days and those of your children may be multiplied in the land the LORD swore to give your fathers. -Deuteronomy 11:18-21

The heart is a liar. Put on God’s armor and pick up His sword to fight the darkness within and without. You may tire, but God never will.

God bless.

Prophets – Are You One?

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Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. – Numbers 12:6

Are there prophets now, in the present, and how can we know they aren’t just crazy people or con-men? Are you a prophet? Haha, yes I’m serious. Let’s go down this rabbit-hole together, shall we?

Prophesying is one of many God-given gifts that can used for God’s kingdom. It’s not all about predicting future events. It’s about being a spokesperson for God.

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching. – Ephesians 4:11-13

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified. – 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

One source states, “The foretelling of future events was not a necessary but only an incidental part of the prophetic office. The great task assigned to the prophets whom God raised up among the people was “to correct moral and religious abuses, to proclaim the great moral and religious truths which are connected with the character of God, and which lie at the foundation of his government.” (talkjesus)

However, there’s more to being a prophet than simply speaking God’s known Word or teaching others about His ways. If you’re good at that, then you have the gift of teaching. Being a prophet is about revelation, not necessarily about the future. A prophecy is never going to contradict what the Bible says, but it may reveal something new.

Definition of Prophet: “a person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God” (dictionary.com)

What does it mean to be a spokesperson? They are essentially the voice of another, making official statements and advocating on their behalf. God’s spokespeople have a few additional responsibilities. As exemplified by the many prophets of the Bible, they are to denounce sins and uphold righteousness and be a servant to others. Basically, if one is a prophet, they need to be a disciple of God too.

I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. – Deuteronomy 18:18-19

I have also spoken by the prophets, and have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets. – Hosea 12:10

Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. – Amos 3:7

Did you know that there was an official office of prophecy with a school to guide their gift back in the day?

Colleges, “schools of the prophets”, were instituted for the training of prophets, who were constituted, a distinct order ( 1 Samuel 19:18-24 ; 2 Kings 1 Samuel 2:3 1 Samuel 2:15 ; 4:38 ), which continued to the close of the Old Testament. Such “schools” were established at Ramah, Bethel, Gilgal, Gibeah, and Jericho. The “sons” or “disciples” of the prophets were young men ( 2 Kings 5:22 ; 2 Kings 9:1 2 Kings 9:4 ) who lived together at these different “schools” ( 4:38-41 ). These young men were taught not only the rudiments of secular knowledge, but they were brought up to exercise the office of prophet, “to preach pure morality and the heart-felt worship of Jehovah, and to act along and co-ordinately with the priesthood and monarchy in guiding the state aright and checking all attempts at illegality and tyranny.”

In New Testament times the prophetical office was continued. Our Lord is frequently spoken of as a prophet ( Luke 13:33 ; 24:19 ). He was and is the great Prophet of the Church. There was also in the Church a distinct order of prophets ( 1 Corinthians 12:28 ; Ephesians 2:20 ; 3:5 ), who made new revelations from God. They differed from the “teacher,” whose office it was to impart truths already revealed. (talkjesus)

They have to be certain that what they’re conveying to others is actually a message from God and not a figment of their imaginations or desire from their own hearts. God is adamant that His people believe and listen to His prophets, so if anything a prophet says is incorrect or turns out to be false, they are commanded to dismiss them as false prophets.

‘Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper. – 2 Chronicles 20:20

They say to the seers, ‘See no more visions!’ and to the prophets, ‘Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.’ – Isaiah 30:10

As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the LORD has truly sent. – Jeremiah 28:9

For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. – Matthew 24:24

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. – 1 John 4:1

To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. – Isaiah 8:20

Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. – 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21

The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.” The LORD said to me: “What they say is good. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.” You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?” If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed. – Deuteronomy 18:15-22

In other words, God is asking that we not outright deny the sayings of those who speak on His behalf. You must listen, but you must also test them to make sure they are a true prophet. That goes for yourself. If you believe you may be a prophet or spokesperson of God, make sure that what you believe you are being told holds true through the fires of God’s Word. If even one part doesn’t line up with the Bible’s message, it’s not God. If any future event or detail predicted does not come true, it’s not God.

I know it sounds crazy, but I firmly believe prophecy is not a temporary gift that was given out long ago. I think it’s still out there, for God’s children to bolster His kingdom.

And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. – Joel 2:28

See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. – Revelation 19:10

If you find out that you or someone else is tested true to be a prophet for the one true God, remember that the calling is one of danger and ridicule, back in the day as well as now. Stephen, a prophet and martyr, once stated, “Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?” (Acts 7:52).

Since the Holy Spirit was spread amongst all nations who are Children of God, any one of us can converse directly with God. The gift of prophecy is one that takes that a step further by not only speaking personally with God about you and those around you. It’s a monumental task of speaking on behalf of God to others, not “just” having a personal relationship and ability to converse with the God of the universe (although, speaking with God directly is a massive gift to have, all of disciples have that ability. If you don’t think you have that, well, talk to God about it. 🙂 Also, read my post named “God’s Voice”).

“On the day of Pentecost, Peter declared that unlike the more limited exercise of prophecy during the time of the old covenant, God would henceforth pour out his Spirit “on all people” (Acts 2:17). Peter said the result would be a fulfillment of God words: “Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy” (Acts 2:17–18).

Prophetic ministry in the early church was widespread and diverse. A band of prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch, and one of them, Agabus, “stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world” (Acts 11:28). Prophets were active in the church at Antioch (Acts 13:1), Tyre (Acts 21:4), and Caesarea, where the four daughters of Philip prophesied (Acts 21:8–9). Prophecy, one of the gifts of the Spirit designed for edifying the body of Christ, was also utilized in the churches at Rome (Rom. 12:6), Corinth (1 Cor. 12:7–11; 14:1–40), Ephesus (Eph. 2:20; 4:11; see also Acts 19:1–7; 1 Tim. 1:18), and Thessalonica (1 Thess. 5:19–22).” (thegospelcoalition)

The Bible may seem full of fantastical things that we dismiss as past occurrences simply because we have a hard time believing they still occur every day. One of those things may be prophecy. His Spirit is on all of us disciples, but each of us have many varied and equally as important gifts. Some of us have more than one gift. It’s important that if you feel you’ve been given a gift, no matter how the world may look at it, you speak with God about it, meditate on it, and bring it with you into discussions with your fellow believers. Test yourself and test those who say they are prophets. And don’t take this lightly: If God gave you a gift, you better use it.

Sources other than Bible:
https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/prophets
https://www.talkjesus.com/threads/apostle-disciple-prophet-the-difference-explained.52204/
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/sam-storms-what-does-scripture-teach-about-office-prophet-gift-prophecy/
https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/prophet-prophetess-prophecy/
https://bible.org/question/are-prophets-considered-teachers

New Year, Same Ol’ You

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No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good’ -Luke 5:36-39

Happy New Year!

New Years are popular for resolutions. Most of us have a desire to be smarter, stronger, faster, bolder…. just better than before. The problem is, by February, most of us have fallen off the bandwagon. The reason is simple. We’re trying to pour new wine into old wineskins. We’re still us, the imperfect beings who’ve stumbled through every year before, stumbling right into this year too. Do you know what happens to old wineskins with new wine? They explode. New wine is generating gases that will expand any leather container it’s inside. The old wineskin has stretched to accommodate the wine it held before and has hardened, making it impossible to expand any further. If you have new wine, you need a flexible new wineskin.

I find new meanings or deeper insights into Bible verses nearly every time I read them, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that I find new insights into my testimonial experience too. When I was a pre-teen, I desired to know how to be as perfect as possible but found it impossible to follow or remember all the commands and guidelines listed in the Old Testament. I prayed to God for something I could remember throughout my life, so that no matter what I’d know I was doing the right thing. I heard the whisper of a single word: love.

What I’ve come to realize is God was telling me something more: Before I change your heart, nothing you do will be right.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, a but have not love, I gain nothing. – 1 Corinthians 13

So, you have health, career, relationship, organization, inner peace goals. That’s honorable to be willing to better yourself. It may have even become unavoidable that you need to change your life. Understand this: that goal will fail if you don’t change internally. You shaped your life around your heart, so have you invited God to change your heart to reflect where your life will now go? You need a new heart if you want a new life, or your new life will explode from the inflexibility of your old heart.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. – Isaiah 43:18-19

To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. – Ephesians 4:22-24

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years! – Galatians 4:9-10

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. – Ezekiel 36:26

Invite God into your journey, seek a change of heart, try to understand why your heart wouldn’t let you make those needed improvements before now. We fail time and time again to be good and perfect, but we are nothing without God renewing our heart.

I know this all sounds vague. You need to know how to put this change of heart into practice. Of course, as expected, you need to speak with God and focus on your goals and how you want God to be a part of the process, your reasons for the goals, and your need for a renewal of Spirit.

In order to have a change of heart, you need to change your patterns of thought and the foundation for your current behaviors. This can be different for everyone. Let me give you an example.

I’ve wanted to run more for years. My patterns of thought, however, were hindering my progress. I wanted comfort after I came home from work, I’d tell myself I was tired after a long day, and I’d fall into a million “reasons” why I didn’t need or want to run that day. To complicate things, I’d try to count calories and lump that together with running as part of my health goals. I’d get obsessed with calorie counting, get tired from low calories added to exercise, and burn out from trying to do it all on top of my normal responsibilities. I was used to coming home and sitting down, and nothing would get in the way of breaking my old patterns.

Last year, I decided to change my focus. I’d been feeling unhealthy and uncomfortable. My patterns of thought started up as I laced my shoes. I want to sit and read, I’m tired, I should spend time with the family, etc. etc. I couldn’t fight the thoughts. If I shot one down, another would pop up. I listened to the excuses but continued to lace them up. I whined inside but still put in my earbuds. I felt and thought everything and paid attention to every bit of it… and went out and did it anyway. Like a bully that’s being ignored, the thoughts would sometimes become bored and subside. Sometimes, they pop back up and demand my attention. As far as calorie counting, I voted against it. I’m not focusing on losing weight but being healthier, stronger, and happier. I’ll love my body as the temple God says it is. I’ll love myself as God loves me. I’ll love my family by being an example for them and giving them a reason to join me. More, healthier calories means more energy to run faster. When you exercise, you feel deeply the bad food or the eating too much, so that helped somewhat. Either way, I chose love instead of punishment. My heart changed to see running as a meditation and form of joy. I feel alive and free.

Sometimes, I eat badly for a few weeks or put off running. That’s okay. I’m gentle with myself. My soul wasn’t meant for strict, unrelenting things but for cycles and undulating waves. I sense God in this change. I speak to Him on my runs.

Your journey may be different. Set goals, but remember, for new wine, you need a new wineskin.

How Jesus forgave Judas

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What does Judas, the notorious betrayer, show us? He teaches us how God handles sinners and how He loves them. Jesus died for ALL sinners: you, me, your Sunday school teacher, your child, the rapist in the county over, the murderer on death row, and the unrepentant terrorists you hear about on the evening news.

You can read that again if you think you saw the wrong thing, but I mean every word. Even more importantly, God meant to live and die for everyone of them. He is God. He knows who will choose salvation and who won’t. He knew when He suffered that He was going through it for those who would never be grateful and never love Him. He knew.

He would also do it all over again.

Why would He do such a thing? God makes commitments to those He loves, and He doesn’t make a commitment He’s unwilling to carry out.

He committed to His twelve disciples just like He committed to us.

“Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” John 6:70

It’s hard to say how many chances Judas was given to bring his darkness into the light and confess the fact he’d been stealing from their money (John 12:6) or had plotted against the man who repeatedly stated He loved him. In fact Judas, someone Jesus knew was a thief, was in charge of their moneybag. He was given trust for this purpose. Then, Jesus gave him another chance that He knew Judas would still not take.

“After He had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.
Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
Jesus answered,“It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.” John 13:21-30

Breaking bread has been a symbol of friendship, solidarity, and trust since forever. Here, Jesus offers friendship to the man He is saying (though the others don’t understand)is the beginning of His end. Another Chance.

When it states that satan entered Judas’ heart, it doesn’t mean Jesus put satan there, it doesn’t state this was the start of Judas’ betrayal, or even that something strange and supernatural occurred with the bread. It means that this is the moment Judas finally gave up on love entirely. He’d committed to what he was about to do.

Jesus’ heart must’ve been breaking when He told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” It’s even more heartbreaking that Judas did. Such a strange thing God’s love is; it’s not our natural way, and it’s definitely not the easy way.

Time passed and the plot came to fruition.

“While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” Mark 26:47-50

Have you noticed something? Jesus still called Judas friend. Can we take a moment here to recognize that Jesus is showing us not only how to love others but how He loves us? This is a bitter, bitter pill to swallow. I’d have a hard time portraying this level of love to someone like Judas. Yet, here there are, swords at the ready, betrayal of a beloved friend who stands before Jesus, mocking Him with kisses as He is led to His death. Jesus calls Him friend at the end.

Judas still had a chance to ask for forgiveness, but he wouldn’t before Jesus’ death. Yet, someone else at death’s door did ask for forgiveness, which illuminates exactly what Jesus would say to Judas.

“Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the Jews.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.””

Dying, the one thief confessed and asked for forgiveness. This, Jesus gave without hesitation. He even asked the Father for the forgiveness of the ones who were killing him! So, what happened to Judas?

“When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said.” Matthew 27:3-4

Judas became ashamed, confessed his sins, and didn’t want the money he’d done it all for.

If you are in any doubt that God forgave him, would you re-read this post? Even better, open the Bible and see for yourself. He betrayed himself in the end; he was in such intense pain over what he had done.

To the very end, the very end (I have to say it more than once), God loves you and will forgive you. It’s NEVER too late. He knew your sins before He created you. He made you anyway. He never walks away from us; we walk away from him. Yet, the moment we turn back to see His face, He calls us friend and invites us back home.

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

Sources other than the Bible:
https://www.taize.fr/en_article4572.html

We the Priests, the Warriors

/ EloquentMuse / 1 Comment

This world can be full of troubles, death, and darkness. Most of us have felt helpless at some point in the face of the overwhelming atrocities.

As Christians, we are unique in that God has called upon us to be the light in this darkness, to be a source of hope in the midst of hopelessness.The unbelievers are annoyed by our constant replies that we will send “thoughts and prayers” to victims every time something occurs, yet nothing is put into action or changed to prevent the evil from occurring again. Of course they are! Don’t automatically put up a wall when you hear the outpouring of anger against us when you can find wisdom in their words. Put your love of God above your pride and listen. Of course we must pray, pray always and without ceasing. However, we are called to be God’s hands and feet, used by Him to lead the world to His way of love.

So, what can we do? How exactly can we accomplish that?

There’s a popular, albeit fictional, story of an atheist professor who attempted to shame the believers in his classroom by calling into question the logic of a purely good God. He stated that if good and bad exist, and God created everything, then God created bad and is, therefore, not purely good. Without posting the story in its entirely, a student stood up and turned the questions around in order to show that, in the same manner that darknessand coldness does not exist in themselves but are the absence of light and heat, so too, evil is simply the absence of good and, therefore, God.

We are called to bring light and warmth to a dark and cold world. Anytime, there’s a question of how, we can look to the Bible.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people to be his very own and to proclaim the wonderful deeds of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and exiles to keep on abstaining from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. Continue to live such upright lives among the gentiles that, when they slander you as practicers of evil, they may see your good actions and glorify God when he visits them. ” 1 Peter 2:8

You are a priest, and what did priests do? They lived their lives as examples of joy, love, and truth, as we are called to be examples to the world. They were those who had direct access to God and His messages, and they were responsible for announcing those messages to all those who would hear, as we are called to spread the gospel. They made sacrifices that appealed to God for others’ sins and praised Him for their blessings, as we do when we pray. There’s something else they did:

They separated the clean and unclean, the diseased from the healthy. If someone was diagnosed with a contagious disease, that person was quarantined away from everyone until he or she was declared no longer contagious. If someone was unclean for some reason or another, that person was made to stay outside of the encampment to keep from spreading diseases or making the clean unclean. Not to mention that the punishments for those who committed crimes against others were harsh and immediate.

What does this mean for us? We are called, as a holy people, to discern the unhealthy and unclean and push for the powers-that-be to separate them from the rest of us. If those who are unhealthy purposely harm others, we are called to push for the powers-that-be to punish those criminals.

You are a warrior, and what do warriors do? They do not rest in apathy. If you are a Christian, you are called into action as a priestly warrior of God. We all know the verse about the full armor of God:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:10-18

Another thing to remember is that we are all made gloriously different with varying points of view. What a shame if we didn’t have the strength to see different dimensions and solutions to problems! Let us come together as brothers and sisters and not fight amongst ourselves, but hear each the other’s opinions, so that we can find a way to shed God’s light and love into the confused, blind, and horrified world.

And also, always, always pray.

Faith with Eyes Wide Open

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There’s a reason Jesus healed the blind: God wants love and faith with eyes wide open.

Occasional doubt is normal. Humans are unused to the greatness and perfection that is God. Nothing like Him exists elsewhere in our experience. Even when others have the best of intentions, they can still, through internal or external circumstances, let us down. So, complete and utter faith is a rarity that is difficult to obtain.

“After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

‘Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,
your very great reward.’

But Abram said, ‘Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.’ Then the word of the Lord came to him: ‘This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” Genesis 15:1-6

Introducing Abraham and his wife Sarah, in this verse, Abram expresses his doubt that God can reward him, but by the end of the conversation, he decides to believe Him. However, he wasn’t done doubting yet and neither was his wife.

“Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, ‘The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.'” Genesis 16:1-2

She still believes God’s power is limited. She’s barren and elderly, and she’s clearly not thinking God will bless her own body with the ability to conceive. Now, pause. There seems to be a time difference between when God made his promise to Abram (already considered old) and when Sarai made this decision as it states she did this “after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years.(16:3). Then, when Hagar gave birth to his son Ishmael, Abram was eighty-six years old. Fast-forward thirteen more years to when Abram is ninety-nine. God speaks once again.

“No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations… God also said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.’ Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, ‘Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?’ And Abraham said to God, ‘If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!’ Then God said, ‘Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.’ When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.” Genesis 16:17-22

Abram once again expresses his doubt that his elderly wife will give birth, and she has never had any indication yet that she was indeed the one to bear God’s reward. Time is passing, and it’s becoming harder and harder to have faith in this already fantastical promise.
Sarah was about ninety years old when she gave birth to Isaac, his name meaning “he will laugh,” reflecting the fact both of his parents laughed in disbelief at a miracle child.
One important thing I’ve gathered from these passages is that God didn’t bash anyone for their disbelief or momentary doubt. God gives us a brain to think. He doesn’t want blind faith as in sheeple. You can find numerous instances in the Bible where He denounces people being “blind” or how evil people “blind” others into following them. He even states He gave us ears to hear and eyes to see. You may have momentary doubts. Use your head to understand God, try to understand God and not merely fall away.

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding.” Proverbs 3:13
We need to grow. Some things will never be understood about God’s nature. We need to know that we won’t always have the answers for everything, but that doesn’t mean we should be blind.
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:12-14
Even God is evidenced using our senses that God gave us.
“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20

He is the light, and that means He loves understanding, wisdom, and the truth. Seek the truth, and He will guide you. Don’t wallow in the doubt but use it to strengthen your faith in a God who will surely always follow through on His promises. Trust in Him because He wants you to know Him, eyes wide open.

Commandment Series: The Ninth

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“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16

The 9th commandment is a very specific requirement based on the ancient Jewish court system established in the Old Testament. Witnesses were called to testify against wrongdoers before any sentences were carried out against them. In this way, if you lied that someone was guilty in court, they could very wrongly be punished for someone else’s transgressions. Punishment, of any type, given to an innocent would be horrible, but the sentences spelled out in the Old Testament were many times death. No wonder lying in court was forbidden in the very important ten commandments; it has to be one of the worst things a person can do.

Many say the 9th commandment itself is, strictly speaking, only touching upon the situation in which a person would lie, causing an innocent to be punished wrongly. However, as with all of God’s laws, they are all about matters of the heart. Jesus brought this idea up during his Sermon on the Mount.

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Matthew 5:33-37

You, as a child of God, need not make promises to others. The words you speak must be so consistently true that, when you open your mouth, every thing you utter is considered in stone. That is the way God is, and He expects us to follow His ways.

What about lies spoken/done in love? God is all about love, right? Satan, get thee behind me. If you think this, than know the world has twisted a truth into a lie, and made you believe it.

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” 1 Corinthians 14:33

He even gives examples in the Bible where people lied in love and caused trouble. In Genesis, we see Rebekah wrapping her son Jacob in furs and deceiving the blind Isaac into giving blessings to him. She certainly was thinking this was done in love for the betterment of her son, but it only caused strife between brothers that lasts for years, making Jacob run away from a murderously angry Esau. Another example is when Abraham feared for his and his wife’s life, causing him to lie to the pharaoh that Sarah was his sister and not wife. This caused the pharaoh to almost commit adultery, expelling them from his kingdom when he found out his deceit.

What about bending the truth , half-truths, or concealing the truth? Well, if anything you say has the intention of deceiving the other person, whether your words are literally truth or not, your heart is full of deceit. So, yes those are lies too. If you stand near a cliff, you don’t see how close to the edge you get before you fall, you see how far BACK you can get. The Bible gives many examples of just this, but the most prominent one I can think of is that of Joseph. Remember Jacob? His most beloved son was Joseph for whom he made a beautiful coat of many colors. His brothers sold him into slavery out of jealousy. In order to lie without lying (they thought), they covered his coat with animal blood and showed it to Jacob, saying only “Does this look like your son’s coat?” They never lied, with words, but their hearts were full of the intent to deceive Jacob into thinking Joseph was dead.

So, you can lie with words, actions, half-truths, or simply concealing the truth with the intent to deceive. If you’re lying in court or any other situation that would cause an innocent person to suffer, that’s obviously the worst lie you could commit. However, every lie is wrong, and we should adhere to the truth even when it’s painful. It is God’s way, the way of light and love.

Need more verses about God’s view on lying? They’re innumerable. Well, maybe there’s a number, but it’s a really high one, so we won’t be putting the vast majority here. Instead, here’s a hand-selected few:

“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” Proverbs 6:16-20

“‘You will certainly not die,’ the serpent said to the woman.” Genesis 3:4

“The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.” Proverbs 12:22

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” Revelation 22:14-15

Commandment Series: The Eighth

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“You shall not steal.” Exodus 20:15

There are many ways to steal. One is obvious, that of actively taking someone else’s possessions. Despite the glaring wrongness of this, many people in the world still have problems keeping their hands to their own stuff.

“Theft from retail stores costs the American public 33.21 billion dollars per year.” (1)

In 2014, it was estimated by the US Chamber of Commerce that “75% of employees steal from their workplace and do it repeatedly.” (2)

“Identity thieves… hit a record 15.4 million Americans” in 2016 (3)

There’s a great poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox called “Two Kinds of People.” I’ll only post the portion that relates to our subject:

“No! The two kinds of people on earth I mean
Are the people who lift, and the people who lean.

Wherever you go you will find the world’s masses
Are ever divided into these two classes.
And, strangely enough, you will find, too, I wean,
There is only one lifter to twenty who lean.

This one question I ask. Are you easing the load
Of overtaxed lifters who toil down the road?
Or are you a leaner who lets others bear
Your portion of worry and labor and care?”

Stealing is a heart problem, as is every sin. Stealing is about not respecting others and their possessions, not giving in love, it’s about taking and selfishness, which is against everything God stands for.

There are other ways you might steal. If you write up incorrect information on your taxes (stealing money), take longer on a work break than you’re allowed (stealing time and possibly money), sell products with misleading advertisements (stealing money), or taking advantage of the goodness of others out of laziness (time, money, etc). We can add kidnapping to the list. You could probably think of other things that are actually theft. If the spirit of your actions are selfish, you might be stealing.

Hosea 12:6-8 But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always. The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud. Ephraim boasts, “I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin.”

“Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.” Leviticus 19:13

You could also be stealing from God. He is the Creator and owner of all things big and small, and that includes time, energy, material possessions, living beings, etc. If you have the ability and possessions available to you that, after you and your loved ones’ needs are met, could help others, you have the obligation to do so. Nothing is really yours, after all. If you hoard things, you’re stealing what is God’s, and God wants everyone to be blessed. If you have an excess of anything, He wants you to share in the joy of blessing others.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

“If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. “Ephesians 4:28

Another way others have stolen is by being false prophets and teachers. This is also a way of stealing from God. They steal His people and lead them astray.

“This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them. So Jesus said to them again, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.” John 10:6-8

Jesus was clear that stealing is undermining everything it means to be Christian. God wants to give generously out of love, and He wants us to emulate Him in this way.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

When we take, whether that’s material possessions, people, identities, time, energy, anything, we could have been giving. Use what He has given us to bless the world, and you’ll be blessed in return.

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell. Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it. Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives. If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!” Proverbs 11:25-31

Sources other than the Bible:

1) crimedoctor.com/shoplifting-facts.htm

2) pinkerton.com/blog/who-took-that-preventing-employee-theft-in-retail

3) nbcnews.com

Commandment Series: The Seventh

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“You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14

Statistics show 19% of married women and 21% of married men admitted to cheating on their partners. Those are just the ones who admitted it. However, some people will define cheating as physical, some emotional, and others are deluded into thinking its not cheating if it’s an “open” relationship. By the way, humans never defined marriage, so they can’t define adultery. Only God can do that. So, how does God define it, anyway?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” Matthew 5:37-42

The Greek for woman in this verse is “Gunh” which stands for “a woman; specially, a wife:–wife, woman.” (Strong’s) If adultery is to covet someone who isn’t yours, it is essentially about both envy but also the beginnings of theft. Now, of course humans are not objects which are actually owned by others, but they “belong” to one another in the sense of marriage. Their life together is for one another. In the same way as with any sin, even to foster the seeds of coveting a married person is a sin. As an aside, I believe it is not a sin to lust after an unmarried person. They belong to no one. However, if you are yourself married, be careful to focus on your partner. It is ok to observe and appreciate the beauty of this world and God’s creations, but remember to tend your own grass so the other side doesn’t begin to look greener. Once you water the seeds of that thought process, you are walking down the path to causing someone else to sin… which is a sin for you as well.

Does Jesus mean for us to literally pluck our eyes out if they cause us to lust? Well, I’m not saying no. I’m not telling you to do something so extreme, but the point is that you do whatever it takes, however painful it may be, to remove the things in your life making it easy to sin. Chances are good that the sin itself would be ten times more painful for everyone if you continue in it.

“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.” 1 Corinthians 6:18

This is connected to the idea that, for pre-Greek Hebrews, the soul with the body was the soul. If you sin with your physical self, you are sinning against your soul and vice versa. If other sins are all abstract, sexual immorality is a double whammy, hurting yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally. As much as the modern world wishes to believe we can do things with others with no internal consequences, it’s not true. We are connected to everyone we physically connect to, which can be a problem to those involved in adultery or pre-marital relations.

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 1 Corinthians 6:15-16

One flesh, like a married couple. I’m sure there are some things we don’t understand about the connections forged, even unwillingly, between couples. Relations are meant for connecting and re-connecting emotionally between married couples. If this is taken outside that institution, it can bring more than just the possibly of a child (always a blessing!). It can bring emotional hang-ups, mental scars, loss of trust and connections with even future partners, etc. I can see some may not believe that, but I can also see that many who have never forgotten their past partners or the somewhat brief connections they shared that was ripped apart by the transitory nature of their relationships.

“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Hebrews 13:4

“But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself.” Proverbs 6:32

“For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.” Romans 7:2-3

Alluding to a prior post about the symbolic nature of marriage, the husband, wife, and children can be considered a mirror of the Holy Trinity. The Trinity is permanent, not in the sense of mankind’s “permanency” which always ends even if it’s at death, but wholly, immortally permanent. A marriage is also meant to be as permanent as we can make it as humans so the rest of the world knows that there’s a sense of stability with God. We represent God is all we do, and that includes our marriage. Jesus would never serve another God than the Father, and the Father would never disown Jesus. It is unthinkable and impossible. We need this rock of trust in God and in our spouse. If we can not trust in the permanency of our spouse, the most permanent relationship we can forge with another human being, we can trust in no one. That’s not a world I wish to live in.

“May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love. Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife? Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman? For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all your paths. The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast. For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly.” Proverbs 5:18

Adulterers punish themselves and those around them for their selfish motives. Marriage is hard because we’re broken humans, but as Christians, we aren’t just humans. We are children of God, the God of selfless love. We must strive hard to not even entertain the seeds of adultery so that our paths are easier to walk and clearer to view.

Sources other than Bible:
http://www.divorcestatistics.info/latest-infidelity-statistics-of-usa.html
Greek Strongs Concordance

Commandment Series: The Sixth

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“You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13

On the surface, this seems like an easy one. I mean, sometimes you might get angry at others, but you’d never exactly kill anyone unless you’re a psychopath… right?

Not so fast.

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” Matthew 5:21-26

Um. So, is Jesus saying murder is equal to simply being angry and calling someone an idiot (the meaning of Raca in Aramaic “reqa”)? Yes.

Why?

Here’s the crux of the matter, and it’s an important one because it may change how you interpret the Bible in many other places as well:

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23

Although it matters whether you literally kill someone or not, it also matters equally whether you are harboring the beginnings of murder in your heart. Both the seed of faith and the seed of sin lie within our hearts. We cultivate it with our thoughts and the external influences we allow in our lives.

There’s a good story attributed to the Cherokee tribe, and I’m sure you’ve heard it:

One evening, an elderly Cherokee brave told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, “my son, the battle is between two ‘wolves’ inside us all. One is evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is good. It is joy, peace love, hope serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.”

The grandson though about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “which wolf wins?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “the one that you feed.”

It’s natural to occasionally become angry. In fact, I believe every feeling is natural and not evil in and of itself. It’s whether you harbor it, whether you feed it, which determines whether you sin or not. I believe there’s a fine reason for every emotion, but there’s not a good reason for every emotion in every situation. If it’s not righteous anger, which does NOT attach it itself to an individual but rather to the sin itself, it is heading toward sinfulness.

What is sinfulness, but the potential of harm toward others and ourselves?

God doesn’t leave you to deal with your internal tempest alone. He gives many pointers throughout the Bible on how to not break his 6th commandment, how to starve the angry wolf within us.

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” Ephesians 4:26-31

Here’s some advice on avoiding the feeding of anger. Don’t let it sleep in your bed with you, so that it may grow and turn into something uglier as you feed it angry thoughts. Another good idea is get busy, give yourself something to do to divert your mind for awhile and give yourself the ability to give help where needed. Charity will calm an angry heart fast. Don’t speak out of anger; when you open your mouth, let it be to build up others not tear them down. Speaking ill of others only breeds more anger within you and now within others.

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” James 1:19-20

Here, it is suggested that we close our mouth and open our ears. It may help to slow our anger if we hear the whole story and consider another’s point of view.

“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.” James 4:1-2

One sin begets another. Stop it at the source. What is anger but the sense of not getting what we feel entitled to, be that respect, time, material things, etc.? We are entitled to nothing but what God gives us. Be humble and understand that we may not get all things we want from this corrupt, crumbling world. We have better things in store for us than that anyway.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1

Don’t you love when another person gets angry that you’re angry? Doesn’t that calm you right down and bring a shared connection with one another? Haha. Fight fire with cooling water, not more fire. This is easier to say than do, but it’s easier the more you practice it, believe me.

I’m sure if you look for it, you’ll find even more advice on how to starve the wolf of anger within you. At first, the wolf will howl inside and pace in what it’s not receiving. Keep going. The more you practice the above, the stronger you will become over it, and the weaker it will be become. This applies to more than just anger.

May you have peace today or as in Hebrew, “Shalom.”